Lenny Del Genio
LA Lakers -6.5
A tip of the cap must be extended to the Knicks for going 14-3 ATS as underdogs, including a flat-out butt-whippin of the Phoenix Suns Friday night on ESPN, 121-96 as 2.5-point pups. Before that they got us when they beat San Antonio as a 5.5-pt dog in MSG. However, after F Stoudemire made his return to his old home (Phoenix), playing the Lakers may actually be a letdown. LA seems to have righted the ship following last Sunday's disaster here at home vs. Memphis (L 104-85) with three straight victories. However, they're still just 2-7 ATS L9. Look for the Zen Master Phil Jackson to not allow a second straight horrid Sunday performance. HC Jackson's team is 7-1 ATS L3 yrs when off BB wins by six pts or less. The key to this game will be the Knicks lack of defense vs. the Lakers offense. LA averages more than 104 PPG at home while NY allows over 106 PPG on the road. LA Lakers are our NBA Late Night Bailout.
Marc Lawrence
Boston College +7.5
We'll be the first to admit that Nevada owns a bit of star quality with its 12-1 record (only team to beat Boise State in the regular season) but now it's time for the Wolf Pack to do something they've seldom done in the postseason: finish. Chris Ault's squad has dropped four consecutive bowls and last season's may have been the most embarrassing, a 45-10 shellacking by SMU as 11-point favorites. They've certainly got the weapons to win. The Wolf Pack bring the nation's No. 4 ranked rush offense into the fray and Ault's 'Pistol' offense had better have a round in every chamber because Boston College shows up with the No. 1 ranked rush defense in the land, allowing a mere 80 RYPG. With the irresistible force set to challenge the immovable object, we consulted our database in search of a meaningful edge. Ault owns a 19-7 ATS record as a favorite of 9 or more points but the Beantown Eagles have compiled an outstanding 44-6 SU log versus non-ACC opposition - going 8-2 ATS as dogs. BC lost here, 23-14, last year when it was named the Emerald Bowl so head coach Frank Spaziani will be looking to improve on his 4-1 ATS versus a foe off consecutive SU and ATS wins. The clincher comes from our database as it notes that bowl teams off three ATS wins taking on an opponent that scored 21 or less points in its final regular season game are 0-20 ATS since 1980 if they are off back-to-back straight up wins, the last by more than eight points ATS versus an opponent that allows less than 22 PPG on the season provided they scored 62 or less points in its last win of the season. Grab the points with the defensive dog here tonight. We recommend a 3-unit play on Boston College.
Rocketman
3* Drake -1.5
Indiana State is 2-7 SU on the road this year meaning all of their losses have come away from home this season. Drake is allowing only 57.9 points per game at home this year. Drake is 10-3 SU at home vs Indiana State since 1997. Sycamores are 2-6 ATS in their last 8 games after allowing less than 50 points in their previous game. Favorite is 5-2 ATS in the last 7 meetings. We'll play Drake for 2 DIMES tonight!
Score
400% Baltimore
Bob Donahue
2 Units Temple
Scott Spreitzer
Playoff GOY - Philadelphia
Northcoast
3* Ravens
3* Boston College
Double Marquee KC Chiefs Over
Marquee Packers Under
Marquee Nevada Under
The Sports Capper
10* Play Baltimore (-3) over Kansas City
5* Play Green Bay (+2.5) over Philadelphia
3* Play Nevada (-8) over Boston College
Fantasy Sports Gametime
5000* Play Baltimore (-3) over Kansas City
Kansas City has lost 8 of the last 9 playoff games against the spread and they have also lost 5 of the last 6 games against the spread after having won four or five of the last six games. Kansas City has lost 14 of the last 17 games after scoring 14 points or less and they have also lost 12 of the last 14 games coming off a home loss.
5000* Play Green Bay (+2.5) over Philadelphia
Philadelphia has lost two consecutive games and they have also lost 4 consecutive games against the spread vs. NFC North Division Opponents. Green Bay has won and covered the spread in 3 of the last 4 games coming off a two game home stand and they are only allowing an average of 15 points a game on defense this season.
1000* Play Nevada (-7.5) over Boston College
Nevada is 12-1 this season and they have also won 6 consecutive games coming off two or more conference games. Nevada has won 6 consecutive games coming off a win against the spread and they are averaging over 42 points a game on offense this season.
1000* Play Kansas (-10) over Michigan
Kansas has covered the spread in 8 consecutive games coming off a home win and they have also won 7 of the last 8 games as a road favorite of 6.5 to 12 points. Kansas has won 7 of the last 8 road games when the total posted is between 130 and 139.5 points and they are averaging over 85 points a game this season.
50* Play San Antonio (-11.5) over Minnesota
Bob Balfe
Baltimore -3
Green Bay +3
Nevada -7.5
OC Dooley
3 Units UCLA +4.5
The UCLA Bruins who lost twice to their cross-town rivals a year ago are actually in “triple revenge” as the struggling football program also lost on the scoreboard to the Trojans in the regular season finale back in November. The last time these two rivals met on the basketball floor was a very close contest that was decided by just a FOUR-point margin. The key to this late-night pick is that both teams are very similar in a handful of areas, which makes “taking” the points inviting. Both schools lean heavily on defense to win games, in part because each has a pair of dominant big men patrolling the paint. For those that take a peak at this late night hardwood affair keep an eye on UCLA giant Brendan Lane (6’9”) who is ranked second in the Pac-10 conference with a grand total of 23 different BLOCKED shots already. Each of the teams participating in tonight’s rivalry game “spread the wealth” on offense as 5 different players average “double digit” scoring per contest. Both the Bruins and Trojans nearly pulled off upsets at #3-ranked Kansas. Since UCLA has a long track record of prosperity in basketball with the legendary John Wooden leading the way, it is not often that the oddsmakers “give” them points to work with inside friendly Pauley Pavilion, but that is what transpired the last time we saw the Bruins take the court which opens the door to a staggering database angle. Dating all the way back to the 1997 campaign UCLA just happens to be an excellent 13-3 ATS/ROAD after playing a game cast as a home underdog. It was not all that long ago when USC was riding a profitable 6-2 run “against the spread”, but the law of averages have caught up with the Trojans who are starting to struggle (0-1-1 ATS last two appearances) where it counts
Stan Lisowski
3* Wichita State -5
Home club is 8-2 straight up the last 10 meetings of the series, with the Shockers winning 5 straight against the Bears. Chalk has covered at just about a 70% clip in Mo State conference road games. So far in MVC play, Wichita State is 4-0 SU and ATS, winning by a 20 point average.
Teddy Covers
Dayton
Creighton
Rhode Island
Jason Been
Packers at Eagles
Pick: Packers+3
This has become the season where the Packers are exorcising demons from years past. Two weeks ago they demolished the Giants, who eliminated them in the 2007 NFC Championship game and now its back to Philadelphia, where they lost a 2003 playoff game on a 4th and 26 conversion by the Eagles in the closing seconds. This year will be different as the Packers defense should be able to contain QB Michael Vick. Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers will have success in various blitzing schemes that will confuse him and limit his out of pocket presence. A like taking teams that close out a season with must-win games to make the playoffs. In reality the Packers have been playing playoff games the last two weeks as even one loss in those games would have eliminated them from contention. Meanwhile, the Eagles have looked awful in December, losing to the Vikings and Cowboys the last two weeks. Look for the Packers to jump all over the Eagles early in this one and win comfortably, 38-20.
Nick Parsons
Islanders/ Blackhawks Under 5.5